NEW DELHI, MAY 25 (PTI): Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Monday wrote to chief ministers, lieutenant governors and administrators of states and Union Territories, seeking their cooperation for the smooth and fair conduct of the NEET-UG re-examination scheduled on June 21.
In view of the prevailing heatwave conditions, Pradhan urged states and UTs to ensure the availability of essential facilities at examination centres for the convenience and well-being of candidates, the Education Ministry said in a statement.
“In view of the prevailing heatwave conditions, I request you to kindly issue appropriate instructions to the district authorities and all schools, colleges, universities and other institutions hosting the examination in your State/UT to ensure the availability of essential basic amenities for the convenience of candidates,” he said in the letter.
The minister explained that these facilities may include safe drinking water, adequate seating arrangements, functional fans and coolers, clean washrooms, shaded waiting areas, uninterrupted electricity supply and portable toilets wherever required.
Emphasising that the well-being of students was of paramount importance, Pradhan called on state governments to ensure adequate transportation facilities for candidates on the day of the examination.
He expressed confidence that all states and UTs would extend full cooperation to ensure that the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination is conducted in a smooth, transparent and fair manner.
The National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (Undergraduate) for admissions in medical courses held on May 3 was cancelled by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on May 12 amid allegations of paper leak. The matter is being probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and a re-test is scheduled for June 21.
Cong slams govt on paper leaks
Sharpening its attack on the Modi government on the exam paper leaks issue, the Congress on Sunday said “Mantri Pradhan” must resign, the NTA must undergo a thorough revamp, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi must demonstrate his commitment to student welfare and the integrity of the education system.
Congress general secretary in charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh, said that any continuation in the status quo will only prove the prime minister’s “indifference” to India’s students.
He said that after a string of paper leaks in Yogi Adityanath-governed Uttar Pradesh and Rahul Gandhi raising the issue consistently during the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, the Modi government piloted the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act through Parliament in February 2024.
“While the Modi government hailed it as a landmark, opposition MPs had pointed back then that the law did nothing to prevent paper leaks – through means like ‘guess papers’ or otherwise.
“In the run-up to the (2024) Lok Sabha elections, the Congress had therefore promised to develop a fool-proof plan to prevent paper leaks as part of its Yuva Nyay guarantees,” Ramesh said on X. Today, it is painfully clear why the Modi government’s “hurried law” was grossly inadequate as a deterrent to paper leaks, he said.
“Even as the Modi government reportedly denies a paper leak in the NEET-UG 2026 before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, it is clear that a ‘guess paper’ was leaked to the highest bidders. “Lakhs of students have already suffered in the last two years because the Modi government refused to heed the opposition’s voice,” Ramesh said.
“The path forward is clear – Mantri Pradhan must resign, the NTA must undergo a thorough revamp, and the Modi government must develop a foolproof protocol to set, type, translate, print, transport, invigilate, and grade public examinations,” Ramesh said, in a swipe at Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Will the ‘Pradhan Mantri’ demonstrate his commitment to student welfare and the integrity of our education system, Ramesh asked.
The Congress leader’s remarks came on a day the Supreme Court said it was sad that the National Testing Agency (NTA) had not learned lessons from the earlier NEET paper leak.
It sought a response from the Centre, NTA and the CBI on pleas for a replacement of the testing agency with a robust and autonomous body to conduct the medical entrance exam.
On May 12, the NTA cancelled the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate), or NEET, held on May 3 for medical admissions amid allegations of paper leak. A re-examination has been scheduled for June 21.
The CBI is investigating the matter.